German Swiss International School (GSIS) celebrates 55 years of academic excellence with a spectacular spring concert at the grand theatre of Tthe Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District
Hong Kong, 27 March 2025 - On Saturday, 8 March 2025, German Swiss International School (GSIS) proudly celebrated its 55th anniversary with a spectacular Spring Concert held at the Grand Theatre of the Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District. GSIS is the first international school in Hong Kong to perform at this prestigious venue. This milestone event showcased GSIS’ excellence with a demonstration of its talent in the arts.
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
The evening commenced with an opening ceremony in the foyer of the Grand Theatre, celebrating GSIS’ home base in Hong Kong, China, with captivating performances by students performing traditional Chinese dance, as well as musical pieces featuring the yangqin and erhu. This vibrant display set the tone for a night of celebration and cultural exchanges.
The concert was graced by distinguished guests, including Mr Stefan Bredohl, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany; Mr Daniel Freihofer, Consul General of the Swiss Confederation; Dr Gerhard Zettl, Consul General of the Republic of Austria; Ms Michelle Li JP, Permanent Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government and Ms Wendy Leung JP, Deputy Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government, alongside over 1,000 members and friends of the GSIS community. The Grand Theatre was filled to capacity, reflecting the enthusiasm and support for the event.
The concert brought together over 600 talented GSIS students from Kindergarten to Secondary and their teachers. Performances included “Summer 69” by Bryan Adams, chosen to commemorate the year GSIS opened, classical pieces such as the “Finale from Violin Concerto No. 1” by German composer Max Bruch, contemporary favourites like “What a Wonderful World” by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss, "Beneath the Lion Rock" by Joseph Koo, a song cherished by many in Hong Kong and “Luegid vo Bärge un Tal” by Ferdinand Huberm, a celebrated Swiss choral piece that captures the essence of Alpine culture. The concert also featured a special performance by renowned Hong Kong singer and GSIS alumnus Mr Alfred Hui, Class of '07.
In addition to the concert, attendees were invited to enjoy an art exhibition in the foyer, displaying select pieces of art from GSIS students across both streams. This exhibition served as a preview of an upcoming art showcase set to take place in May 2025 at the Hong Kong Art Centre, further highlighting the artistic talents nurtured within the school community.
Mr Jonathan Shun Wah, Chairman of the GSIS Boards, expressed that, “As a proud alumnus, it gave me great pride for German Swiss International School to host its 55th Anniversary celebrations at the beautiful Grand Theatre in the Xiqu Centre, located in the West Kowloon Cultural District. Over 600 students and staff performed various pieces representing the heritage of GSIS, a German and Swiss international school in Asia's World City, Hong Kong. Amongst the many amazing performances, it was particularly heartwarming to watch our Philharmonic Orchestra switch from Beethoven to '”Beneath the Lion Rock”, and for our Vocalis to sing in a pitch perfect Bernese dialect. A sincere thanks to all the students and staff who worked together to demonstrate the best that our school has to offer in full celebration of another landmark year.”
“I am pleased to witness the multifarious artistic talents of GSIS students and the strong bond of the GSIS community. It is particularly heartening to see that the School positions itself as one that is firmly rooted in Hong Kong and one that fosters respect for diversity while embracing Chinese culture. It speaks volumes about Hong Kong being an international city.” said Ms Michelle Li JP, Permanent Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government.
“What a concert! What a wonderful school! We could not be prouder of our students who excelled in every aspect of the concert’s performance. The diverse programme showcased their extraordinary talent while beautifully reflecting our school’s German-Swiss roots alongside our local and regional environment. This is what we stand for and how we live up to our intercultural self-conception and responsibility,” said Ms Alexandra Freigang-Krause, School Principal of GSIS.
As GSIS looks to the future, it remains dedicated to its mission of academic excellence, nurturing generations of responsible global citizens who excel in all that they choose to do.
About German Swiss International School
Benefitting from a network of 135 German Schools Abroad, German Swiss International School (GSIS) is a leading dual-language institution in Hong Kong that has offered all-through education from Kindergarten to Secondary since 1969. Renowned for its academic excellence, GSIS offers a multicultural education in two equally successful streams where both diplomas are globally recognised - the German International Stream (GIS) offers the German International Abitur (DIA) while the English International Stream (EIS) delivers the British IGCSE and International Baccalaureate (IB) accreditation.
